Hurricane Harvey – How to Help

Hurricane Harvey – How to Help

Texas National Guard soldiers arrive in Houston, Texas to aid citizens in heavily flooded areas from the storms of Hurricane Harvey. (Photos by Lt. Zachary West , 100th MPAD)

No stranger to natural disasters, SDMI at Louisiana State University has all those impacted by Hurricane Harvey, and those potentially in the path of Hurricane Irma in our thoughts.

Hurricane Harvey, the first major storm of its kind to make landfall in the U.S. in over a decade, has caused mass devastation along the Texas and Southwest Louisiana coasts. While the full scope of the damage has yet to be determined, outpourings of concern and offerings of assistance have come in from every corner of the nation and other countries to help impacted communities begin the road to recovery.

If you are looking to lend your support, and ensure your contribution can be the most helpful for Hurricane Harvey disaster survivors, below are some key tips and resources to navigate which organization or areas best fit your donation(s).

DONATING TO RELIEF EFFORTS

The most effective way to support Hurricane Harvey survivors in their recovery is to donate money and time to trusted, reputable, voluntary or charitable organizations.

Cash donations offer voluntary agencies and faith-based organizations the most flexibility to address urgently developing needs. Cash donations allow agencies to identify and access needs within the immediate area. The inflow of cash also pumps money quickly back into the local economy and helps local businesses recover faster. The continuity of government and business is a critical element to recovery, the faster the local economy is up and running again, the sooner citizens can resume a sense of normalcy.

Donating unsolicited goods such as used clothing, miscellaneous household items, medicine, or perishable food items are not necessarily the best items to donate. When used personal items are donated, the helping agencies must redirect their staff away from providing direct services to survivors in order to sort, package, transport, warehouse, and distribute items that may not meet the needs of disaster survivors. Cash will have more impact to the affected areas during this time of need. Please consider the options if you are unsure how you can personally provide help to the affected areas.

Remember to always donate through a trusted organization. At the national level, many voluntary-, faith- and community-based organizations are active in disasters, and are trusted ways to donate to disaster survivors. Below are some of these organizations where your donation(s) can have the greatest impact:

American Red Cross – www.redcross.org; 800-RED-CROSS; or text the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

The Salvation Army – www.helpsalvationarmy.org; or 800-SAL-ARMY

The United Way – www.uwtexas.org/hurricane-harvey; or text UWFLOOD to 41444

ANIMALS ARE SURVIVORS TOO!

At SDMI, our preparedness and response activities center around animals too! People in affected areas also have animals in need as well, whether it is vet care, shelter, or food for both household or other animals. The below organizations have set up ways to donate to help various animal welfare organizations active working in Texas and Louisiana.

DONATING TO THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY

Post disaster medical care in communities following disasters is a challenge. Consider donating cash or even blood to organizations and agencies that assist in helping the sick and elderly with immediate and urgent medical care post event.

Direct Relief is providing funding and emergency health kits to community health centers in Texas. The contents of the health kits are based on the organization’s experience in previous hurricanes, and include items such as insulin, asthma inhalers, and anti-hypertensive medication – https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/hurricane-harvey-response/

In addition to the American Red Cross, local organizations accepting blood donations are Carter BloodCare and the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center.

FOOD DONATIONS

With many local grocery stores and distribution centers affected by Harvey, getting food on shelves and into homes will continue to prove difficult until areas are passable for commodities to flow, store are cleaned up and power is restored. Donating to food banks can serve as a short term solution to those seeking food. A number of food banks will be aiding the affected region. Consider donating money instead of food, as it allows a food bank to use your donation most

Here is its list of food banks in Texas likely to be affected by Harvey:

THE PERSONAL ROAD TO RECOVERY – INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE OPTIONS

FEMA Individual Assistance (IA)

FEMA Administrator Brock Long has indicated that early estimates show some 450,000 may qualify for federal flood victim assistance. The FEMA Individual Assistance Program is available to all those eligible.

Some applications for disaster assistance require submission of an SBA application before eligibility for assistance can be determined. Learn more about the home and property disaster loan application. https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela

HOW LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY IS CONTRIBUTING TO HARVEY RECOVERY EFFORTS!

LSU Foundation

LSU Student Disaster Relief Fund: LSU is raising funds to assist our students who have been impacted by the storm. To make a tax-deductible contribution to the fund, please visit www.lsufoundation.org/lsustudentrelieffund

Texas Universities Disaster Relief Fund: As we think about how to best serve our students, we ask that you also think about the generosity of the Texas A&M students who raised money for LSU students affected by the Baton Rouge flood last year. LSU is seeking donations to help Houston-area public university students. If you would like to make a contribution, visit www.lsufoundation.org/txunivdisasterrelief